Bangalore-Mangalore train service likely from November

Bangalore-Mangalore train service likely from November

Staff Correspondent

Problems have been observed in the signalling systems

Journey time likely to be 10 hours



feasibility test: The inspection special train at the Mangalore railway station in the early hours of Monday.

MANGALORE: The much-awaited passenger train service to Bangalore on the Mangalore-Hassan-Bangalore broad gauge route in all likelihood would commence next month, if the assurance given by V.N. Mathur, Member, Railway Board, is anything to go by. Mr. Mathur was part of a team of senior railway officials which carried out a safety inspection of the broad gauge route, especially the Ghat section, on Sunday.

Interacting with presspersons here on Monday, Mr. Mathur said the railways was keen on starting an overnight train service between Bangalore and Mangalore as soon as possible.

“It is our intention to start (it) in November. The Minister for Railways is likely to inaugurate the train service,” Mr. Mathur said. “There were a few safety issues that had to be resolved and we have asked the South Western Railway to tackle them,” he said.

Dwelling on the safety issues, Mr. Mathur said: “We have observed certain problems in the signalling systems and have decided to take correctional measures on a war-footing. There is a problem of maintaining signalling equipment and efforts are under way to come up with technical solutions for them,” he said. On the track condition, Mr. Mathur said it was good despite the heavy rain and frequent landslips in very difficult terrain.

Parrying a question on introduction of trains on the Bangalore-Mangalore via Arsikere and Mysore respectively as announced in the previous Railway Budget, Mr. Mathur said there were no immediate plans for that. “The main demand of people of the region, both in Mangalore and Bangalore is for an overnight passenger service, especially in view of the poor road condition, which is adversely affecting movement of people,” he said.

Asked about the possible duration of travel between the two cities, Mr. Mathur, noting that the detailed time-table was yet to be worked out, said the journey may take up to 10 hours. “The idea is to start the train service around 7 p.m.,” he said. Incidentally, the special inspection train carrying senior officials, which left Bangalore at 11.30 a.m. on Sunday reached Mangalore at 12.10 a.m. on Monday after halts en route. Bangalore-Mangalore train service likely from November

Staff Correspondent

Problems have been observed in the signalling systems

Journey time likely to be 10 hours



feasibility test: The inspection special train at the Mangalore railway station in the early hours of Monday.

MANGALORE: The much-awaited passenger train service to Bangalore on the Mangalore-Hassan-Bangalore broad gauge route in all likelihood would commence next month, if the assurance given by V.N. Mathur, Member, Railway Board, is anything to go by. Mr. Mathur was part of a team of senior railway officials which carried out a safety inspection of the broad gauge route, especially the Ghat section, on Sunday.

Interacting with presspersons here on Monday, Mr. Mathur said the railways was keen on starting an overnight train service between Bangalore and Mangalore as soon as possible.

“It is our intention to start (it) in November. The Minister for Railways is likely to inaugurate the train service,” Mr. Mathur said. “There were a few safety issues that had to be resolved and we have asked the South Western Railway to tackle them,” he said.

Dwelling on the safety issues, Mr. Mathur said: “We have observed certain problems in the signalling systems and have decided to take correctional measures on a war-footing. There is a problem of maintaining signalling equipment and efforts are under way to come up with technical solutions for them,” he said. On the track condition, Mr. Mathur said it was good despite the heavy rain and frequent landslips in very difficult terrain.

Parrying a question on introduction of trains on the Bangalore-Mangalore via Arsikere and Mysore respectively as announced in the previous Railway Budget, Mr. Mathur said there were no immediate plans for that. “The main demand of people of the region, both in Mangalore and Bangalore is for an overnight passenger service, especially in view of the poor road condition, which is adversely affecting movement of people,” he said.

Asked about the possible duration of travel between the two cities, Mr. Mathur, noting that the detailed time-table was yet to be worked out, said the journey may take up to 10 hours. “The idea is to start the train service around 7 p.m.,” he said. Incidentally, the special inspection train carrying senior officials, which left Bangalore at 11.30 a.m. on Sunday reached Mangalore at 12.10 a.m. on Monday after halts en route.